thinkpad t30+ spill

[ahlaboulette]

HI, I have spilled (actually not me) some coca cola on my thinkpad t30 threw the keypad. I immediatly absorbed it with a towel but it seems that some could pass actually. It was still working 5 minutes after the incident but then crashed down. I know i did not have the good reflex to clean everything immediatly but now my laptop is completely down. It used to keep charging the batery for one night but now it seems that the alimentation( electricity) card is down. Not even the LED are working. It seems that there was a shortcut in the circuit. I have undone everything I could, hard drive etc and cleaned everything with an electronic cleaner. no change.
do you have any idea on how i can recover this problem, if possible. i have to precise that my computer is a second-hand without any warranty.
thanks in advance for your help and sorry for the language, i'm french...
i really need to recover it, it's my only and necessary tool as i'm a student (who will soon maybe need to work to get a new laptop!)

[Thinkpaddict]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal.

This is what I would do if I had the same problem: Do not try to turn your computer on under any circumstances. Take the computer appart immediately, starting with your hard drive. Dismantle everything. You will need the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the T30(do a search for this in IBM.com), and it will take you a while, but if you want to optimize your chances to get your laptop back you will have to go through it.

Once you have everything removed (including the motherboard) you will have to spray (or submerge) the motherboard with distilled water. Don't use tap or mineral water, it must be distilled water. Then, let things dry in the sun for a while. Make sure everything is completely dry. Then put the computer together, and very cautiously turn it on and see what happens. If after going through all this trouble it still doesn't work, at least you know you tried your best to solve the problem. Good luck.

[ahlaboulette]

thank you for your answer. actually i hace removed everything i could, except the mother board, not so confident to remove it. i have cleant everything with a electronic cleaning spray which is supposed to clean every moisture, coke, pee or whatever but no.... everything seems dry and clean but the laptop does not answer. it seems to be a proble of alimentation as the alimentation plug and board does not seem to responde and recognize the alimentation cable. the LED is not even working, saying normally that the battery is charging.

is the alimentation board easy and cheap to change? would a dock station (with an external alimentation) replace the dead board? i have tested the cable with a multimeter and it's all right.

time of thinkpad death......too early.
ps: any other good idea will really be welcome.

[Thinkpaddict]

There could be more things wrong with your motherboard than just the power system. And to replace the charging circuit alone would take a lot of effort. I still think you should submerge the whole motherboard in distilled water and let it dry, then try again. You can't clean the motherboard thoroughly enough leaving it mounted and spraying it with electronics cleaner. If nothing works in the end, it might be time to search eBay for an affordable motherboard replacement.

[ahlaboulette]

OK thanks for your help, sorry to be late. So I have cleant everything with still this special spary. Nothing happened. A specialist told me that changing the whole motherboard would cost me a lot IF I could find one. SO my last chance is your idea, to submerge it with distilled water, even if I think it's too late.
thanks anyway